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MONDAY, June 6, 2016 – Antacids that contain aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding in rare cases, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said Monday. Since it issued a warning about serious bleeding risk with aspirin in 2009, the FDA has recorded eight new cases of serious bleeding caused by aspirin-containing antacid products sold over-the-counter, which include Alka Seltzer and Bromo Seltzer. In some of those cases, patients required a blood transfusion, the agency said in a news release. "Take a close look at the Drug Facts label, and if the product has aspirin, consider choosing something else for your stomach symptoms," Dr. Karen Murry Mahoney, deputy director of the division of nonprescription drug products, said in the release. "Unless people read the Drug Facts label when they're looking for stomach symptom relief, they might not even think about the possibility ... Read more

-- If you've eaten too much or indulged in a food that's greasy, fatty or spicy, you may have an uncomfortable feeling known as indigestion. Here are common symptoms, courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic: A burning sensation in the stomach or upper abdomen. An acidic taste in the mouth. Pain in the abdomen. Occasional diarrhea. Bloatedness or gassiness. Vomiting or nausea. Growling stomach. Read more

TUESDAY, May 10, 2016 – A popular over-the-counter heartburn medication accelerated aging of blood vessel cells in lab tests, raising red flags about its long-term effect on heart health, researchers say. Faster aging of blood vessel cells exposed to the antacid Nexium (esomeprazole) might potentially hinder the tasks these cells perform to prevent heart attack and stroke, the new study suggests. These lab results could explain why other studies have shown increased risk of heart disease in people who use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – the class of heartburn medication that includes Nexium, said study senior author Dr. John Cooke. "Our finding that the lining of blood vessels is impaired by proton pump inhibitors is a unifying mechanism for the reports that PPI users are at increased risk for heart attack, stroke and renal failure," said Cooke, chair of cardiovascular sciences at the ... Read more

-- Over-the-counter antacids are generally safe to help ease heartburn. But, there are some people who should check with their doctor before taking them. The American Academy of Family Physicians says you should get your doctor's OK if you: have kidney disease, are postmenopausal, have had a Clostridium difficile infection, are elderly, have a compromised immune system. Read more

THURSDAY, May 23 – People who suffer from frequent heartburn may be at increased risk for cancers of the throat and vocal cords even if they don't smoke or drink alcohol, a new study says. Interestingly, common over-the-counter antacids seemed to protect against these cancers while prescription medications such as Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid didn't, the researchers said. "There has been a controversy about whether heartburn contributes to cancers of the larynx or pharynx," said lead researcher Scott Langevin, a postdoctoral research fellow at Brown University in Providence, R.I. "And we found out that it does elevate the risk of these cancers. There is about a 78 percent increase in the risk for cancer in people who experience heavy heartburn," he said. "This is important in figuring out who to monitor more closely." The other finding, which Langevin called "surprising," was the ... Read more

-- Antacids are medications that counteract acids in the stomach, to help ease heartburn discomfort. Many of these drugs are sold over-the-counter. But not everyone should take antacids, despite their wide availability, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. The academy mentions these people who shouldn't take antacids without first consulting a physician: People who are passing bloody stools. People who are vomiting blood. People who have heartburn that doesn't get better after two weeks of treatment. People who have painful or difficulty swallowing. People who are losing weight for no apparent reason. Read more